AIYA Links: 26 January

Prof Merle Ricklefs AM, Professor Emeritus of the Australian National University, talks about the history of Australia Day and the continuing arguments about its aim and timing. Listen to his interview with SBS for today’s Australia Day edition.

In the news

A moderately strong earthquake shook Java and was felt in the country’s capital Jakarta on Tuesday and Wednesday. One person has died, several were injured and more than 1,000 houses have been destroyed.

Indonesia’s growing middle class are travelling overseas in record numbers but the numbers holidaying in Australia are not as strong. Ross B. Taylor writes that unless something is done about the expensive and onerous visa process faced by Indonesians, Australia will continue to miss out.

How does Indonesia regulate pornography and how have its anti-pornography laws been applied? Dr Dave McRae chats to Dr Helen Pausacker in the first Talking Indonesia podcast for 2018.

Will Jakarta no longer be Indonesia’s capital? Over the years, Indonesian politics demonstrates that talk of moving the capital is really more of a distraction than a genuine plan. Read more at the Interpreter on how political will is needed to make the move happen.

On the blog

Get to know more AIYA’s new operations officer (Indonesia), Sophie Hewitt, in this year’s first AIYA Member Spotlight. Find out why she loves martabak manis and the word banget!

Opportunities

The Australia-Indonesia Centre Health Cluster is seeking applications for the role of Liaison Officer at the Surabaya campus of Universitas Airlangga. Applications should be sent before 28 January midnight.